L Taraval Rapid Project

Project Overview

After engaging with the community to shape proposed changes approved in September, early enhancements are coming to make Taraval safer for everyone who depends on it, including the Muni riders who make 30,000 trips on the L Taraval each day. This is all part of a much-needed rehabilitation on Taraval Street that will replace infrastructure like the worn rails, overhead wires and sewers, as well as repave the entire street.

Starting in January 2017, you’ll begin to see a variety of changes along the L Taraval – from new paint on the street to enhanced signage reminding drivers to stop for loading Muni passengers. We appreciate all of the great input we’ve received during this process. All of these improvements are there to make you, and other pedestrians, safer!

The law requires cars to always stop behind trains where passengers get on and off Muni in the street, including at all clear zone locations. Do not pass until the doors are closed.

2) Painted safety zones at sidewalk corners

Example painted safety zone on 16th Street

Safety zones at sidewalk corners help make pedestrians more visible to drivers when crossing the street. Painted safety zones will temporarily extend the sidewalk until permanent, concrete pedestrian bulbs can be installed.

To enhance safety along Taraval Street, painted safety zones will be installed at six intersections, including: 20th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 33rd and 38th avenues. Concrete pedestrian bulbs will be installed with the larger project starting 2018.

3) Parking changes

Enhancing safety to make you and other pedestrians safer will require some parking along Taraval Street be converted into a new travel lane. Parking along the following blocks will be removed:

North side of Taraval Street:

Street block

Parking spaces removed

18th – 19th

Seven spaces

25th – 26th

Nine spaces

29th – 30th

Seven spaces

31st – 32nd

Eight spaces

39th – 40th

Four spaces

41st – 42nd

Seven spaces

43rd – 44th

Five spaces

45th – 46th

Eight spaces

South side of Taraval Street:

Street block

Parking spaces removed

19th – 20th

Nine spaces

42nd – 43rd

Ten spaces

44th – 45th

Seven spaces

You will start to see meters or time limits at the first few spaces on some side streets just off Taraval to encourage turnover. Angled parking was proposed for some blocks of Santiago and Ulloa streets to offset parking removed on Taraval. This change is on hold pending further SFMTA review and resident outreach during the 6-month boarding zone pilot.

4) 6-month boarding zone pilot

Pilot boarding zone on Taraval at 40th Avenue.

The 6-month boarding zone pilot will include visible painted street markings and new signage at five transit stops along Taraval Street, along with a robust evaluation of driver compliance to assess safety. The pilot will test the effectiveness of painted street markings and improved signage in getting drivers to stop behind loading trains. The pilot will also be paired with an education and enforcement campaign.

Painted boarding zones will be installed at the following five intersections in the eastbound direction: Taraval at 26th, 30th, 32nd, 35th and 40th avenues. Parking at these locations will be retained during the pilot.

SFMTA will be evaluating driver compliance in stopping behind loading trains at the five pilot locations over the next six months. If a compliance rate of 90 percent is not achieved, concrete boarding islands will be installed. Detailed explanation of evaluation metrics.

5) Transit Stop Removal

Eight L Taraval stops will be removed starting Saturday, February 25, 2017 to improve travel time and increase reliability.

In both directions: Taraval at 28th and Ulloa at 15th

Towards downtown: Taraval at 24th

Towards SF Zoo: Taraval at 17th, 22nd and 35th

Based on direction from the SFMTA Board and community feedback, the inbound 17th Avenue stop will be retained during the six month pilot period and SFMTA will study ridership patterns during that time. We will return to the Board in fall at the end of the evaluation period for their final decision on retaining the stop.

6) Transit-only lanes

Newly striped Transit-only lane on Taraval between 45th-44th.

Transit-only lane markings will be painted along the track lane of Taraval Street in both directions. Drivers will be able to enter the lanes only to pass or make left turns. The SFMTA is committed to closely evaluating the transit-only lane to measure its impact on congestion and traffic flow for one year to identify any necessary adjustments or mitigations.

Starting 2018

Rail track and overhead line replacement

Water and sewer line replacement

Surface repaving

Curb ramp upgrades

Concrete boarding islands and pedestrian bulbs

Traffic signals

What do I need to know?

I'm a driver. What do I need to know?

It’s the law to stop for streetcar passengers. At every clear zone and pilot location, it’s illegal to pass loading streetcars. Next to concrete boarding islands, you may pass at 10 MPH.

Parking on some blocks of Taraval Street will be removed.

The track lane on Taraval Street will now be dedicated to Muni. You can enter the lane when making a permitted left turn, but otherwise drive in the right lane.

I ride the L. What do I need to know?

The new clear zones and upgraded boarding zones are designed to keep you safe while getting on and off Muni. However, do not stand and wait for Muni within the zones or you could risk being hit.

Take note of which stops are being removed starting Saturday, February 25, 2017.